[TerminatioN]

So I was driving home from school when my engine started acting up. It was sort of sputtering, idling rough, and it sounded like it was knocking, making like a constant tapping sound, and the check engine light came on as well.

Anyways, I limp home because I'm only a few miles away, and I thought I could make it. So I make it home and pop the hood and smell this nasty burnt plastic or metal smell. It was horrible.

So after taking off the spark plug/coil pack cover, the valve cover and all that, and finding some interesting things, I started to do some research.
From what I can tell it appears that I have been a victim of the dreaded spark plug recall (which I did not know about until this happened).
If you're not aware of what I'm talking about, you can find more info here:
http://www.s2ki.com/...showtopic=29418
http://www.s2ki.com/...showtopic=43080
http://www.s2ki.com/...showtopic=76194
Or you can search for "spark plug recall" and find plenty more results, or look at the actual copy of the recall, here:
http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto/Servi...000/A02-042.pdf

Anyways, it appears the spark plug backed itself COMPLETELY out and caused some major problems.

Here is what I found when I took my #2 coil pack and spark plug out...
("good" spark plugs/coil packs also shown, for comparison)



















Needless to say it was a nightmare. As you can see the #2 coil pack you see was melted almost beyond recognition, and the #2 spark plug was bent/melted up pretty badly as well.

I tested the compression and the #2 cylinder has about half as much as the others (others are normal). I am not sure whether the cylinder is scored, or if this somehow caused a valve to bend or something, but obviously something is wrong.

I'm going trailer the car in to Honda tomorrow to let them take a look and diagnose the problem. I have talked to American Honda and my local Honda dealership and they're both unsure of what is going to happen here. There is a possibility that Honda will take responsibility and fix whatever went wrong, because of the recall (even though its 7 years old, there is no expiration, time limit etc.). I'm not getting my hopes up though.

Anyways, until they figure out what all is wrong, all I can do is hope for the best. :(

Cross your fingers for me.

Thanks,
-Will

[FitzyS2k]

well not to be Mr. Negative but this happened to my friends 01 and parts of the spark plug fell into the cylinder walls and scratched it up and he had to fight for honda to put in a new engine. I wish you all the luck in the world. it maybe a battle.

[Fredster]

That looks really bad! Lets hope nothing found it's way to the cylinders, or else you'll be looking at a new engine. Good luck bro, you need it!

[dammitjim]

All those missing bits of spark plug and coil pack had to go somewhere :(

[TerminatioN]

Yeah, I know guys. I am already assuming that happened too, but I guess I could get lucky... :(

Thanks for the luck... I'll definitely need it. :banghead:

This post has been edited by TerminatioN: 22 September 2009 - 07:12 PM

[Fredster]

If you remove your head, you'll know what you're dealing with. Maybe your walls aren't scored :shrug: you may get away with just a head rebuild, which is def much cheaper! let us know how it goes :fingerscrossed:

[schefdeh5]

I made a Dua'a (prayer) for you. :)

I hope that won't happen to me.

-Mohamamad

[Kyushin]

On the good side, it doesnt look like anything broke off and fell into the cylinder, lets hope thats the case.

[Kyushin]

Quote

All those missing bits of spark plug and coil pack had to go somewhere :(

:banghead:

Ohh youre right >< I should look closer at the pics

[fuel4blood]

Dang thats horrible good luck man

[Jimboner]

Ahh less then two months ago same thing happened to me. The coilpack was TOAST!! Sparkplug look exactly the same! In fact I was able to pull it out with out having to unscrew it... Ouch... Im breaking apart my block as we speak. I Just took this as God way of telling me I need a bigger motor. F22 it is

[CKit]

To people reading this: IF YOUR CAR STARTS RUNNING ROUGH, STOP.

It's the difference between a simple tightening of a spark plug and a new head or worse.

[TerminatioN]

Quote

To people reading this: IF YOUR CAR STARTS RUNNING ROUGH, STOP.

It's the difference between a simple tightening of a spark plug and a new head or worse.

My car never ran rough though until the damage was already done. There was no indication (not even a CEL) that the spark plug was coming loose.

Anyways guys, a bit of an update with at least a little bit of good news:

I took the car in to the local Honda shop today and was surprised to find that I'm going to have a familiar face/name working on my car! He saw my sub build awhile back on a local car forum and when I arrived, he introduced himself as the tech who would be working on my car and a fellow member of the local car forum. I was impressed to see that he jumped straight into working on it as soon as it was off the trailer and was already checking the compression before I was even out the door (this was at ~5pm btw). Needless to say, I'm ecstatic, that if nothing else at least I have someone competent working on my car that is trustworthy and will take care of me.

[skipdodoubleg]

best of luck with this one man! I hope you're up and running real soon.

[TerminatioN]

BEST NEWS EVER GUYS!

Just got off the phone with the tech I know from the Honda dealership, who was working on my car. The low compression was due to messed up threads caused by the spark plug problem/recall and some carbon build-up not allowing the valves to function properly!

He said he looked at the cylinders and there was absolutely NO SCORING!

So after getting rid of the carbon and fixing the threads, everything is back to working 100% properly!

Honda took care of the parts (plugs + that one coil; probably ~$200+ worth through them), and all I'm being charged for is two hours of labor (which is fair as far as I'm concerned).

My biggest thanks go out to Terry at Proctor Honda in Tallahassee for taking care of me!

Thanks for all the wishes of luck guys, they definitely must have helped!

This post has been edited by TerminatioN: 25 September 2009 - 04:04 PM

[skipdodoubleg]

awesome! I think all you needed was one more wish for luck to push you over the edge! Haha, congrats man. I know you're excited

[k24accord]

nice man. good to hear it was resolved on the cheap.

[ou818]

Grats :thumbup:

Dodged a bullet there, eh?

[CKit]

Quote

BEST NEWS EVER GUYS!

Just got off the phone with the tech I know from the Honda dealership, who was working on my car. The low compression was due to messed up threads caused by the spark plug problem/recall and some carbon build-up not allowing the valves to function properly!

He said he looked at the cylinders and there was absolutely NO SCORING!

So after getting rid of the carbon and fixing the threads, everything is back to working 100% properly!

Honda took care of the parts (plugs + that one coil; probably ~$200+ worth through them), and all I'm being charged for is two hours of labor (which is fair as far as I'm concerned).

My biggest thanks go out to Terry at Proctor Honda in Tallahassee for taking care of me!

Thanks for all the wishes of luck guys, they definitely must have helped!

How did they "fix" the threads? They helicoiled my #2 cylinder when the same thing happened to me and it never quite ran right afterwards. I bought a replacement head for $400 and swapped it out. Looking at the original head, the helicoiled plug didn't sit as far down as the others. So keep an eye out.

[FitzyS2k]

your one lucky SOB. i'm very happy that you didn't have to go throught the trouble my friend went thru. now drive and :exit: :burnrubr: and :vtec: :vtec:!!!

[Stealth_SUX_]

Here was mine...

I wasn't so lucky.. I had lots of scoring on my walls.

[Fredster]

good for you man! you're very lucky, someone up there must really like you.

[SOHCmyDOHC]

Quote

BEST NEWS EVER GUYS!

Just got off the phone with the tech I know from the Honda dealership, who was working on my car. The low compression was due to messed up threads caused by the spark plug problem/recall and some carbon build-up not allowing the valves to function properly!

He said he looked at the cylinders and there was absolutely NO SCORING!

So after getting rid of the carbon and fixing the threads, everything is back to working 100% properly!

Honda took care of the parts (plugs + that one coil; probably ~$200+ worth through them), and all I'm being charged for is two hours of labor (which is fair as far as I'm concerned).

My biggest thanks go out to Terry at Proctor Honda in Tallahassee for taking care of me!

Thanks for all the wishes of luck guys, they definitely must have helped!

Can I ask why they would charge you for labor? The vehicle did not have the recall so the damage cost should be on honda.

Not sure what labor rates are where you live but 2 hours of labor on the left coast is $$. :cry:

[midnightsunset]

Quote

Can I ask why they would charge you for labor? The vehicle did not have the recall so the damage cost should be on honda.

Not sure what labor rates are where you live but 2 hours of labor on the left coast is $$. :cry:

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